A look through Ode To Art's first exhibition with Deng Cheng Wen reflects on the artist's mastery over the medium of oil, and the innovations of his conceptual backgrounds. However, a reflection of his present and upcoming art is even further enthralling than the last. With a progression into water colour as a propagator of not only his artistic capabilities, but as an enhancer of the dissent and transience of the concept phenomenon itself, the artist has crossed limitations of a multifold nature, bringing them together as ambient, thought provoking works that retain the awe inspiring aesthetics contained in his last. With increasing ambiguity and perspective to his representations, the ideas behind them deepen as well, showing a maturity of thought and hand that transcend natural progression into an encapsulation - as if the artist held such macro understanding from the very beginning. The blend of aesthetic and theoretic in such a manner is an exhilarating avenue for the art world - more so that of Chinese culture, showing a break in a tradition of avoidance into insight of the burdened and misguided Chinese youth of today.

Following suit, the artist's imagery too, has progressed immensely in its detailing and significance. Vestiges of urban development such as modern clothing and dyed hair has now evolved into clearly sloganed T-shirts and leather jackets, further emphasizing the generation his works adhere to. His depictions of light and backgrounds remain as astonishing in realism as his oil works, and are even enhanced in certain artworks depicting a keyhole view of his characters. Sombre faces now turn into serene smiles that add layerings of perspective and interpretations - showing his signature characters in a manner that create a mental foraging for empathy and understanding.

-Ode to Art

Image: © Deng Cheng Wen
Courtesy of the artist and Ode to Art